Congratulations to our 2016-17 Undergraduate Cancer Researchers!
Forty-six students were selected for our Cancer Research Award (CRA) program, which offers faculty-mentored research experiences and $1,000 awards for up to 50 undergraduate students per year, plus $1,000 per student to cover research expenses.
This year’s recipients are listed on our Student Awardees webpage and in this news release. They and their faculty mentors will be recognized, along with the donors who make the program possible, at our annual CRA Banquet April 21. Photos of the banquet and each student receiving his or her award will be shared after the event. Watch our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Faculty Achievements
Dr. Masa Tamura, anatomy and physiology, and collaborators have received a $150,000 NIH business development grant for their NIH-funded work to develop an aerosolized lung cancer drug. read more
Dr. Nick Wallace, biology, received a Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program‘s Career Development Award for $360,000 over three years. He studies human papillomavirus, a cancer-causing virus.
Student Achievements
Zheng Zhao, doctoral student in biological & agricultural engineering working with Dr. Mei He, received a BioKansas scholarship for his work on the ExoSearch Chip, which could help doctors detect early-stage cancers more efficiently and accurately. read more
Tuyen Nguyen, doctoral student in chemistry working with Dr. Santosh Aryal, won first place and People’s Choice Award in the K-State 3-Minute Thesis competition. She is developing a new method to treat bone cancer faster than chemotherapy. It also could be used with MRI scanning to diagnose cancer more effectively. read more
Anil Pant, doctoral student in biology working with Dr. Zhilong Yang, won second place in the K-State 3-Minute Thesis competition. His research has uncovered some key findings about vaccinia, a virus that takes on traits of other viruses and could be developed into therapy for some cancers. read more
Vaithish Velazhahan, junior in biology working with Dr. Kathrin Schrick, was named a Goldwater Scholar. The award recognizes excellent undergraduate students who have active research projects and plan to pursue careers in mathematics, science or engineering.
Kathlyn Gomendoza, junior in biology working with Dr. Lorena Passarelli, received a Goldwater Honorable Mention. The award recognizes excellent undergraduate students who have active research projects and plan to pursue careers in mathematics, science or engineering.
Velazhahan and Gomendoza also presented their research at Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol Feb. 15.